June 8, 2012 2:51pm EDTJune 8, 2012 10:07am EDTRob Gronkowski has signed a six-year, $54 million contract extension with the New England Patriots. He has far exceeded expectations and deserved the raise.

Rob Gronkowski has signed a six-year, $54 million contract extension with the New England Patriots, the richest contract for a tight end in NFL history.

Gronkowski signed a four-year contract worth $4.6 million after he was drafted in the second round in 2010. However, he clearly outperformed that deal, coming off a 2011 season in which Gronkowski set the all-time record for receiving yards (1,327) and touchdowns (17) by a tight end.

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According to ProFootballTalk.com, the new contract includes an $8 million signing bonus, a guaranteed 2012 salary of $540,000, a guaranteed 2013 salary of $630,000 and a guaranteed base salary of $3.75 million in 2014. In all, the deal contains $18.17 million guaranteed.

Considering Gronkowski had two years left on his contract, the extension binds him to the team for eight seasons or through 2019, PFT.com reported.

The signing is a stunning move by the Patriots for a player entering just his third NFL season, but they recognized the game-breaking skills of the record-setting Gronkowski.

Gronkowski is coming off left ankle surgery, an injury that slowed him in New England's loss to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

At 6-6, 265 pounds, Gronkowski has the size to post up defensive backs in the red zone. And with his size and speed combination, he is a very effective runner after the catch. His average of 14.7 yards per catch last season was best in the league among tight ends with 50 receptions or more, and he produced more touchdowns in his first two seasons (27) than any tight end in history.

There is no doubt Gronkowski is a big part of the Patriots’ future plans—and now he has been rewarded with a contract befitting his star status.